Overview
Ṣaworoidẹ by Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá is a politically charged allegorical narrative set in the fictional Yoruba town of Jogbo. It was originally a screenplay written by Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá and later novelised in 2008. The novel explores the relationship between leadership and accountability through a traditional covenant that binds each ruler to a sacred oath, symbolised by a brass-bell crown and a brass-bells drum. Failure to uphold this oath results in divine or mystical consequences.
The story follows King Lapite, who ascends the throne by deceitfully avoiding the ritual incision required to seal the covenant. Once in power, he embodies greed and tyranny, mismanaging public resources and crushing opposition. His oppressive reign sparks protests and eventually militant resistance from the people. A power shift occurs when General Lagata, a military figure, topples Lapite’s regime; only to replicate the same corruption and despotism.
However, Lagata’s refusal to honour the sacred tradition leads to his downfall when the brass-bells drum is played during his coronation, resulting in his sudden death. The story concludes on a hopeful note as the rightful heir, Aresejabata, son of a murdered contender, takes the throne after undergoing the proper ritual, and order is restored.
As a satirical allegory, Ṣaworoidẹ critiques postcolonial Nigerian leadership, where cycles of civilian and military rule are plagued by greed, betrayal, and disregard for the people. The novel underscores the importance of cultural values, communal checks on power, and ethical leadership.
Book Profile
- Title: Ṣaworoidẹ
- Author: Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá
- Genre: Ìtàn Àròsọ (Prose)
- Year of Publication: 2008
- Publisher: University Press PLC
- Number of Pages: 194
- Structure: Orí Méjìlá (Twelve Chapters)
- ISBN: 978 978 069 061 8
- Edition: First Edition
Availability
- Available Format: Print (Paperback)
- Where to Borrow: Osun State Library, Osogbo; Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library, Obafemi Awolowo University; Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan.
- Where to Buy: You can get the novel in Obafemi Awolowo University Bookshop, Ife; University of Ibadan Bookshop, Ibadan; Opeyemi Bookshop, Iwo; Sunshine Bookseller; and local bookshops in Osogbo, Ibadan, Ife, Ede, Iwo etc.
Brief Description:
Ṣaworoidẹ jẹ́ àròsọ ọlọ́rọ̀ geere tí Ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n Akínwùmí Oròjídé-Ìṣọ̀lá kọ nípa àdéhùn tó wà láàrin àwọn ará ìlú Jogbo àti àwọn ọba wọn; ojúṣe àwọn ọba sí àwọn tí wọ́n ń darí. Àdéhùn yìí ni kìí jẹ́ kí àwọn ọba Jogbo lówó lọ́wọ́ bíi àwọn ọba ibòmíràn. Ohun tí wọ́n fi ṣe àmì àdéhùn yìí ni ìlù Ṣaworoidẹ ati adéidẹ. Ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá kọ́kọ́ kọ ìtàn yìí fún fíìmù Ṣaworoidẹ tí ọ̀jìnmì àti ogbóǹtarìgì aṣefíìmù, Alàgbà Túndé Kèlání, gbé jáde ní ọdún 1999. Ìwé náà ṣe àfihàn ìwà olè, jẹgúdújẹrá, tembelekún, ìmọ-tara-ẹni-nìkan, “àti bó ba a, o pa à” tí ó kún ọwọ́ àwọn olóṣèlú.
Lápitẹ́, torí pé ó fẹ fi ipò ọba kó owó ìlú sí àpò tara rẹ̀, ó kọ̀ jálẹ̀ láti sín ‘bẹ́rẹ́ ìbura. Ó lo ọgbọ́n àyínìke láti gun àpèrè ọba. Lápitẹ́ tún rán àwọn ọlọ́pàá láti gbé Àyàngalú tí ìṣàkóso ìlù Ṣaworoidẹ wà lọ́wọ́ rẹ̀. Ara ń ni aráàlú. Àmọ́ Ọba Lápitẹ́ wẹ̀wù kòkàn-mi. Àwọn ọ̀dọ́ Jogbo wá wọ̀rọ̀kọ̀ fi s’àdá. Wọ́n jí adéidẹ rẹ̀ gbé pẹ̀lú èróngbà pé tí adéidẹ náà bá pẹ́ níta kọjá bóṣeyẹ lọ, Ọba Lápitẹ́ máa fi ipò ọba sílẹ̀.
Làgàta ṣẹ́gun àwọn ọ̀dọ́ ajìjàgbara; ó sì dá adéidẹ padà fún Lápitẹ́. Níbi ayẹyẹ àṣekágbá dídá adéidẹ padà ni Ọ̀gágun Làgàta tòun tàwọn ọmọ ogun rẹ̀ ti fi ipá gba ìjọ́ba lọ́wọ́ Lápitẹ́.
Àmọ́ ìjọba Làgàta náà kò sunwọ̀n fún aráàlú. Làgàta bá ní òun fẹ́ dé adéidẹ láti sàmì pé àwọn ológun náà ti di ọ̀kan lára ìdílé tí ipò ọba ìlú Jogbo tọ́ sí. Nígbà tí Làgàta dé adéidẹ sórí, ìlù Ṣaworoidẹ sọ. Lójú ẹsẹ̀ ni orí fífọ́ ti pa Ọ̀gágun Làgàta.
Àwọn ọ̀dọ́ ajìjàgbara pẹ̀lú ìrànlọ́wọ́ Amawomárò àti Àyàngalú ṣe àtúntò ìlú. Wọ́n sọ Arẹ́sẹ̀jábàtà, ọmọ olóògbé Adébòmí, di ọba ìlú Jogbo. Gbogbo ìlú sì tùbà, ó sì tùṣẹ.
Also by Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá
- Ẹfúnṣetán Aníwúrà, Ìyálóde of Ìbàdàn
- Ogún Ọmọdé
- Koseégbé
- Ó Le Kú
Alternative Spellings
Here are the alternative spellings, mostly anglicised, of the keywords, having been stripped of their diacritic marks:
- Saworoide
- Akinwumi Isola
- Saworoide by Akinwumi Isola
